Oriental residents gather to watch inauguration on big screen

ORIENTAL — For the second time in four years, residents here had the opportunity to watch the presidential inauguration on the big screen at the Old Theater. About 35 people came Monday morning and watched, stood at times and applauded the second inaugural of President Barack Obama.

ORIENTAL — For the second time in four years, residents here had the opportunity to watch the presidential inauguration on the big screen at the Old Theater.

About 35 people came Monday morning and watched, stood at times and applauded the second inaugural of President Barack Obama.

Cathy Cresswell, the public information officer for the theater, said the free event Monday and the one in 2009 were not political, but rather a public service of the theater.

“We started with the first one because of it being such a historical event,” she said in reference to Obama being the first black president. “It’s not because the Old Theater is political one way or the other. We were fully prepared to telecast it again had the election gone the other way.”

She said the technology to allow the theater clear access to television to broadcast on its big screen came through the help of Keith Smith, an owner of the popular Oriental website, towndock.net.

“We are considering opening it to show other events of public interest, such as debates,” Cresswell said. “But, for the inauguration, we look at it as a celebration of our political process and we’re excited to have the ability to provide it.”

Residents who attended said it was a natural for a village that prides itself in making events and special dates into community gatherings.

“It is great to be here. We were here four years ago in the snow,” said Oriental resident Marsha Luhrs, who walked to the telecast with her husband Bob. “It snowed that day. Look at it today. It’s like spring, so maybe this is a new hope.”

Bill Cresswell walked to the theater with the Luhrs and said he was excited to share the experience with them and the other people inside.

“I’ve never been to any kind of inauguration event with other people, so I think this is a wonderful experience,” he said. “It’s the president. Forget about who you voted for.”

For one day, he said he hoped political parties put aside their differences.

Marsha Luhrs said that the intervening four years of increased partisanship among Democrats and Republicans since the 2009 inauguration had left her somewhat dismayed about the aspect of the president’s message of “everyone working together.”

“I don’t know, but I hope so,” she said. “I was so hopeful four years ago, but now I am a little more cynical, even though I am an optimistic person.”

Bob Luhrs said citizens need to voice their concerns about political division.

“Yes, I think people have to speak up,” he said. “If they are not happy with what is going on, they need to get a little more boisterous.”

Page 2 of 2 - Cresswell said he remains “a bit optimistic” about the partisan divide, especially between Congress and the president.

“The pressures are in place for them to do something about a number of issues and there is enough interest on both sides on some of those issues to come to common ground,” he said.

Cresswell said his main list of issues include “the economy, balancing people’s gun rights against the safety of the population, immigration and health care.”

“I think it would behoove all of them to get something done,” Marsha Luhrs added. “The infrastructure, I think, really needs to be fixed. And this is a way to get people to work and it would help everyone.”